Today we officially start summer, and The Big Chili Cook-Off is just around the corner. As it draws closer, please get the word out to your friends, families and colleagues about why we exist. It seems that in spite of this blog, and in spite of our webpage which can be found here, and in spite of our facebook page which can be found here, there are people all over Evergreen and the surrounding communities who have no idea what we really do.

We have a lot of fun – that’s true, and I suppose we’re pretty good at advertising all the fun things; but The Big Chili exists for the sole purpose of Raising Money for Our Volunteer Fire Departments. Men and women from Indian Hills, Elk Creek, , Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon, Evergreen and North Fork fire districts volunteer as firefighters to keep our mountain homes safe. This means when there is a fire or other emergency, our firefighters come home from a full day at their job, don their gear, and go fight. They are not sitting at the firehouse waiting for the call. They are not paid. To top it off, our firefighters frequently pay for their gear out of their own pockets. So The Big Chili was born, and over the years has raised tens of thousands of dollars for our fire departments. We will continue to raise funds for these selfless men and women, to ensure that our departments are well-funded and adequately equipped, and that the volunteers are fully trained, so when the moment comes we will have the best fire departments in the country.

Please mark your calendar to join us on September 9, 2012. It will be a fantastic day, filled with friendly competition, good food and great music. But most important, it is a tangible way to say Thank You to our volunteer firefighters.

Something interesting has come to our attention, and we’re totally surprised by it. It seems that in spite of this blog, and in spite of our webpage which can be found here, and in spite of our facebook page which can be found here, there are people all over Evergreen and the surrounding communities who have no idea why The Big Chili Cook-Off exists.

Now, it’s true that we have a competition each year where chili cooks fight it out (so to speak) for kudos and local fame as The Best Chili Cook in Town. It’s also true that we provide a venue for local artisans and vendors to display their artwork, products and services. And, yes, it’s also true that we have rockin’ bands on our music stage that keep our feet tapping and our spirits soaring all day long. In fact, The Big Chili is a family-friendly, community-oriented festival that many look forward to each year.

But this is not why the Big Chili exists. The Big Chili exists for the sole purpose of Raising Money for Our Volunteer Fire Departments. Men and women from Indian Hills, Elk Creek, , Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon, Evergreen and North Fork fire districts volunteer as firefighters to keep our mountain homes safe. This means when there is a fire or other emergency, our firefighters come home from a full day at their job, don their gear, and go fight. They are not sitting at the firehouse waiting for the call. They are not paid. To top it off, our firefighters frequently pay for their gear out of their own pockets. So The Big Chili was born, and over the years has raised tens of thousands of dollars for our fire departments. We will continue to raise funds for these selfless men and women, to ensure that our departments are well-funded and adequately equipped, and that the volunteers are fully trained, so when the moment comes we will have the best fire departments in the country.

Please mark your calendar to join us on September 9, 2012. It will be a fantastic day, filled with friendly competition, good food and great music. But most important, it is a tangible way to say Thank You to our volunteer firefighters.

While the Lower North Fork fire was burning, another fire sprang up in Sawmill Gulch near Genesee which threatened homes. Eight fire districts responded and this fire was thankfully put out overnight. One of the responding fire departments was Indian Hills, and unfortunately about $2,000 worth of fire hoses was destroyed during the blaze. Where does the money come from to replace equipment when it’s lost? Sometimes it comes from donors. Sometimes it comes from the firefighters own pockets.

This is the reason we have The Big Chili Cook-Off each year in Evergreen. The Big Chili raises money not only for Indian Hills, but also for the volunteer firefighters of Elk Creek, , Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon, Evergreen and North Fork fire districts. We hope you plan on attending – you’ll have great fun, eat fantastic food and hear some rockin’ music. But please also consider donating to The Big Chili yourself. We currently have a local business that has stepped up with a matching donation. This means that if you give this month, every dollar you donate will be matched. This instantly doubles the impact of your gift. Check The Big Chili website here for more information on how to donate. Thank you to every single one of you – this event raises the money it does because of people like you!

This past week we’ve been reminded that we live amongst people who sacrifice every day for our good. The Volunteer Firefighters of Elk Creek, Indian Hills, Inter Canyon, Platte Canyon and Evergreen have all joined the Volunteers from the North Fork Fire District in an effort to fight a bigger than average foe. Wild fire has come to Colorado and our mountain area volunteers have put in many exhausting hours in the recent days and nights fighting this beast. Many homes and two lives have been lost because of extreme dryness and wind, and today we are thankful for moisture and cooler weather.

There are others in this community of volunteers who do not physically fight the fires but have chosen to sacrifice financially to support those who do. We thank business sponsors such as Aspen Park Veterinary Hospital and ESCO Construction who make supporting our Volunteer Fire Departments a priority. They are sponsoring our 2012 Chili Cook-Off which raises funds that supply equipment and training for our local volunteer fire fighters. These businesses are our heroes, too.

We are praying today for the safety and comfort of the families who have suffered loss during the Lower North Fork Wildfire, and the protection of our Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services and all the others who have come across state borders to help us. We are indebted to them and thank them for their sacrifice. Heroes are people who do what they can whenever they’re needed regardless of the possible outcome.

The fun that can be had at the Big Chili Cook-off in Evergreen is endless, but one of the greatest parts of the day is the Firefighters Challenge. This is when firefighters from each of the six local fire departments ~ Elk Creek, Evergreen, Indian Hills, Platte Canyon, Inter Canyon and North Fork ~ don their gear – coat, pants, boots, gloves, helmet, oxygen, and run an obstacle course with a rescue dummy on their back. They have to crawl through culverts, climb ladders, chain saw through a barrier, and put out a fire, all in the heat of the day with crowds cheering at the top of their lungs. The firefighter with the best time wins and receives a trophy to display at his fire house. Last year Garrison Glenschork from Platte Canyon won first place and Clint Sayler, from Elk Creek came in second. This event is sponsored by BeauJo’s Colorado Pizza, our premiere restaurant sponsor. We would also like to thank BeauJo’s for providing pizza for all our high school volunteers.

The fire departments run an obstacle course for the little ones prior to their own competition. This competition is for children ages two to ten, and is sure to put a smile on your face. Wendy’s sponsors the Children’s Firefighter Challenge and the fastest boy and fastest girl will receive a prize, with all others receiving a ribbon. Every child involved gets a free Frosty coupon – thanks Wendy’s!

We all count on the fact that when we need help, and we dial 9-1-1, help will indeed come. Here in the mountains, when the crisis is a fire or medical emergency, we listen for the sirens indicating that well-trained volunteers are on their way. When these volunteers are responding to a fire, it is absolutely critical that they have the proper equipment, not only to keep them safe, but also to enable them to fight efficiently and effectively.

Here at The Big Chili, our goal is to raise the funds necessary to waylay some of the costs of protecting and equipping our firefighters. No one wants our heroes in substandard equipment, so even the most basic protection, such as gloves, must be approved by the National Fire Protection Association. NFPA approved gloves can easily cost $50-$60, but are unquestionably necessary. Depending on the firefighting conditions, boots can cost $200-$500, and a helmet that is built to withstand the heat and offer the best protection can cost another $300. When one adds to these basics all the other necessary equipment carried by a firefighter, all weighing up to eighty pounds, one quickly sees that firefighting is no easy task, and fighting safely and effectively requires funding. The Big Chili Cook-Off is about the arts, it’s about patriotism, it’s about music and food and fun. But it’s also about this – raising funds for our excellent volunteer fire departments. We consider it our privilege and our pleasure.

Many of us this week saw the smoke to the south, as another Colorado wildfire burned near Kenosha Pass. The Snyder Creek fire, in Park County about three miles south of Kenosha pass was first spotted on Sunday morning, and gained strength as it was fueled by forty-mile-per-hour winds. In addition to the wind, our firefighters have had to contend with very dry conditions as most of the state is under an extreme fire danger warning. But in spite of these challenges, day by day the fire has become more contained due to the skill and efficiency of our firefighters. Thank you for keeping our communities safe!